San Francisco Giants pitcher Jordan Hicks pitches against the Minnesota Twins in the bottom of the first inning at Target Field in Minneapolis on Fri May 9, 2025 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The San Francisco Giants (24-15) lost the first game of their series with the Minnesota Twins (19-20) 3-1. It was a disappointing game for the Giants having only three hits in the entire game. Matt Chapman hit a solo home run but that would be the only run of the game for San Francisco. The Giant’s bats were just not connecting at all in Friday’s game in a lackluster effort from San Francisco.

Game recap: The Twins scored the first run of the game in the first inning taking a 1-0 lead. Trevor Larnach singled lead-off hitter Byron Buxton home and the Twins would continue to add to their lead in the fourth inning. Carlos Correa singled Ty France home but was thrown out at second base stretching. After four innings the Twins had a 2-0 lead.

Minnesota tacked on one more run onto to their tally scoring another run in the fifth inning. Buxton singled ( his second hit of the game) and Harrison Bader was able to reach home plate on a Heliot Ramos fielding error taking a 3-0 lead.

Minnesota’s Chris Paddack was having a solid game while the Giant’s Jordan Hicks had already allowed seven hits. Going into the top of the seventh inning San Francisco had some work to do. Hicks was relieved in the bottom of the seventh inning after having pitched six innings. He was relieved by Kyle Harrison.

The Giant’s were able to get up on the scoreboard in the seventh inning when Matt Chapman hit a solo home run to left center. San Francisco had pulled to within two runs, 3-1. This season San Francisco had been having some success coming from behind but they were running out of time having only two more innings to do so in this game.

The Twins threatened in the bottom of the seventh inning. Harrison Bader stole second base and with two outs and the top of the Minnesota batting order was on deck and coming to the plate. Byron Buxton was intentionally walked and another score rested on Trevor Larnach. San Francisco relief pitcher Kyle Harrison struck him out and it was on to the eighth inning.

The Giants desperately needed some hits with only two more innings left to make any sort of impact. With only three hits in the game, the San Francisco offense was really struggling. Besides the Chapman home run, only Heliot Ramos and Christian Koss had hits both of them singles. Minnesota starting pitcher Chris Paddack had a great 7.1 innings with Louis Varland finishing off the eighth inning. Paddack went three and out in the first five innings of the game.

San Francisco relief pitcher Harrison had a great couple of innings dismissing the Twins in the bottom of the eighth inning and the Giants were three outs away from losing the first game of this series.

The Twins Danny Coulombe would try and close the game for Minnesota. He has not allowed a run this season. Mike Yastrzemski and Willy Adames both struck out and Jung Hoo Lee flied out and that was the ball game with Minnesota winning the first game of the series 3-1. Twins pitcher Chris Paddack had finally won his first game of the season.

Game notes: After winning their last series beating the Cubs the Giants traveled to Minnesota to take on the Twins. The Giants couldn’t get enough offense to take this first game of the series and lost by a two run margin. The Twins had a great series to start the week sweeping the Baltimore Orioles, coming into this game with a lot of confidence. That confidence carried over as the Twins starter Paddock had a three hitter going into the eighth inning on Friday night.

Saturday’s game will feature San Francisco’s Logan Webb on the mound. He has a 4-2 win/loss record and a 2.61 ERA. The Twins will be looking to win another game in this series starting Joe Ryan. He has a 2-2 win/loss record and a 2.93. Two very good pitchers should make this game a good one. San Francisco will be looking to get their offense going and tie up this series. First pitch for this game is scheduled for 4:15 PM.